Donald Carson

According to AV-TEST, over 390,000 malicious programs are released on the World Wide Web daily with intentions of hacking personal data, financial information and sensitive information. An average organization in the Enterprise lose over $1.3 million a year due to false security alerts triggered by confusions due to the human element in the detection process of cyber threats. The EMC global Data Protection Index says that only in the UK, over 22% business suffered data loss in 2015. Experts are now turning to unimaginable potential of Artificial Intelligence and IoT to fight cybercrimes and hacking attacks. In this article we will talk about specific instances which prove that AI and IoT are the only options that are sustainable and effective to fight cybercrime in the future.

Using IoT, Connected Devices and Sensors to Investigate

In November 2016, federal detectives used water sensors and meters to solve a murder case. How? The suspect’s water sensor showed that over 140 gallons of water was used between two hours on the day the murder happened. Later investigations revealed that the water was used to spray on the patio area to clear the murder scene. Smart home devices and Internet of Things will help fight cybercrime and real life crime because these devices will be used by almost everyone, increasing the chance of tracking down the culprits. Governments around the world could make it necessary for every home to have sensors and internet tracking devices which will help the investigators in tracking down the initiation points of cybercrimes.

MIT IoT Artificial Inteligence -Based System to Fight Cybercrime

We are already witnessing the rise of the security bots, which can optimally avert cyberattacks and predict them even before they are launched completely. Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the machine-learning startup PatternEx made a system called AI2 which predicts 85% of cyber-attacks based on the inputs from human security experts. The system learns from the inputs and takes time to become almost perfect. Every time a human expert successfully predicts an attack, it logs the data and traverses through all the hints that were used to predict the attack. Similarly, the system also uses decision trees in case of bad predictions. Here is an introductory video about this system:

IBM Watson System to Curb Cyber Threats

IBM’s Watson cognitive computing is already fighting cybercrime in the industry. Over 40 companies including famous banks, software firm, health and insurance companies are using IBM Watson security system to ramp up their security against relentless cyber-attacks. Over 15,000 security documents are given to Watson as an input in an average organization which helps the system in learning and improving. IBM has a special cybersecurity research library, called X-Force, which has patterns of about 8 million spam and phishing attacks and more than 100,000 documented vulnerabilities. These documents will make IBM’s system a great tool to automate anti-cybercrime units around the world. Watson also has a question and answer feature. For example, if a security experts asks it about how to block a remote login for a particular system, Watson speaks all the steps that are needed for the task, an provides necessary links and documents to read.

Palantir Technologies Uses Big Data to Fight Online Terrorism

Palantir Technologies is a Palo Alto-based cybersecurity company which excels in online counter-terrorism solutions. The company was founded by tech billionaire Peter Theil. The company uses Big Data analyses to backtrack and reveal cyberattacks. Its two products, Palantir Gotham and Palantir Metropolis, are used by CIA, government sector, private sector organizations in the US. Palantir’s software is currently being used by Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to detect online frauds in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

How Will IoT and Artificial Intelligence Help in Fighting Cybercrime was last modified: February 20th, 2017 by Donald Carson

Internet of Things is one of the biggest paradigm shifts in the human history. According to General Electric, Industrial Internet of Things will have a market share of a whopping $60 trillion during the next 15 years. Financial services and data firm IHS projects that there will be over 30.7 billion IoT devices in 2020. Internet of Things industry is still relatively in its early stages, with guaranteed growth prospects. Now is the best time to invest in IoT to make money from this sector. Here are the 4 best IoT stocks you should buy in 2017.

Cisco

Cisco is swiftly shifting away from its traditional hardware and networking equipment business to IoT and Cloud. According to its own projections, there will be a total of 50 billion connected devices by the end of 2020. The company recently acquired apps development company AppDynamics for a whopping $3.7 billion. The company has also bought Jasper Technologies, an Internet of Things company, for $1.4 billion. Jasper’s platform enables users to analyze data, track performance and get detailed insights about big data chunks. The company also provides a platform to create smart IoT applications. Cisco has also partnered with car company Hyundai to work on smart cars and connected cities projects. In the third quarter, Cisco’s IoT business grew by 11. Given the fact that Cisco excels in network security equipment and solutions for Big Data and Cloud, there would be a big demand for its systems in the IoT domain in the coming months. Cisco’s stock has gained over 31% in value over the last 12 months.

Skyworks Solutions

Skyworks Solutions is a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company which makes smartphone chips. The firm made a significant transition towards connected homes, medical, mobile, smart energy in 2016. The company will leverage its market share in global wireless connectivity industry in the future. Skyworks projects to deliver 10 billion annual integrated shipments by 2021, according to ABI Research. Last year, the company launched its platform to deliver next-gen wireless solutions for IoT devices. Skyworks’ chips will be used in set-top boxes and media gateways, which are hubs of smart home and IoT devices. The company also has a massive grip in 4G and 3G chips that are used widely in IoT devices.

Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless is a Canadian company whose entire business model revolves around Internet of Things. The company makes embedded wireless modules that let machines communicate with each other. The company’s balance sheet shows $96 million in cash and absolutely no debt. It has around one-third of the embedded wireless module market. Sierra also spends heavily on R&D, the necessary part of any IoT ecosystem. Analysts think that its research will lead to groundbreaking IoT technologies in the future, which would make its stock price soar. The company recently acquired France-based mobile virtual network operator MobiquiThings for 14 million Euro. MobiquiThings offers a connectivity technology for IoT devices in various sectors including transportation, security, retail and health care.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm is a pretty famous company whose stock is almost guaranteed to go up in the coming years. Its recent acquisition of NXP Semiconductor (NASDAQ:NXPI) is hailed as one of the smartest deals in the recent history. NXP excels in making secure chips for connected devices. Given the rising anxiety about the security of IoT devices, Qualcomm has a high chance of selling its Cloud and IoT security solutions and devices to the Enterprise. It is also important to note that Qualcomm holds highest number IoT patents, which shows its plans for the future.

4 Best Internet of Things Stocks to Buy in 2017 was last modified: February 6th, 2017 by Donald Carson

As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows at an ever increasing rate it is penetrating almost every area of our lives. The internet of things can be found in everything from health care to household appliances. One of the areas where it stands to make the greatest significant improvements is in the manufacturing industry. This article intends to look at the effects of the IoT on manufacturing in general, and specifically at a case study of how it is being used in the manufacturing of carbide dies. This is a key industry that essentially makes parts that make parts. Carbide dies and tooling are used in the manufacturing of a wide variety of products in almost every industry, from automotive to zoological. Carbide dies and tooling literally provide the nuts and bolts of our economy, and the IoT has the power to give greater control of things as small as nuts and bolts to manufacturers. The internet of things offers great promise, although we will also be looking at its potential downside as well.

CNC

A revolution in manufacturing has been unfolding since the 1980’s when CNC (Computer Numerical Controls) were first introduced. This is essentially the use of computers to direct the machining process as opposed to having it done strictly by human machinists. CNC machining represents a huge leap forward in production capabilities, however only recently has this been connected to the entire manufacturing process through the use of the IoT. In the carbide die industry CNC tooling has become an asset in large production runs allowing for programming of specific operations to be completed by machines automatically, however, without the IoT how will manufactures be able to keep track of where their tungsten carbide dies are in the process and when they will be completed?

With the IoT a vast amount of data can be collected and analyzed to determine how a product is running though production. Not only can information from the CNC machine be collected but also information from inspection equipment used after parts are manufactured. In our example, after the carbide dies are produced they are inspected using micrometers, calipers and other inspection tools. These tools will be connected to the internet to give the full picture of how the production of the dies is going. Carbide dies can be tracked as they proceed through the facility and their quality can be gauged as well.

Furthermore, in our example, tools used to produce dies can be tracked. Way to much productive time has been spent due to a trainee putting a tool in the wrong place and a highly paid machinist wasting time to locate it. With the effective use of tagging (location technology using IoT) tooling can be quickly located. Tractability of both carbide dies and tooling can be accomplished quickly and efficiently. Basically, with IoT manufactures can quickly analyses their entire production process and eliminate waste in the areas of raw materials, production time and even human resources.

IoT can also be used to monitor what employees do using ID cards connected to the internet of things as well. However, like every great innovation the internet of things has a darker side. Employees may find it intrusive, giving their bosses a bit too much over site. Another, perhaps greater issue is security.

Going back to our example of a carbide die manufacturer, let’s suppose an unscrupulous competitor was able to hack into their system by parking a car outside their facility and breaching their Wi-Fi login codes. They could then take control of the machines inside, instructing them to essentially self-destruct by commanding them to manufacture dies that aren’t even in the machines. After wreaking havoc, the perpetrator simply drives off. The scariest thing is that the perpetrator probably doesn’t even have to be in the same country now days. Obviously security is going to be an extremely important issue moving forward.

Carbide Die manufacturing future

That being said, this is the future of manufacturing and the risks in this area are no greater than those presented to every other area of life that will be effected by the Internet of things. Progress always seems to have a downside, but in the end it is the future after all. In our example of carbide die manufacturing this represents a way to move forward in productivity. In our complicated world making things that make things more efficiently matters and the internet of things is the next step forward.

IoT and Carbide Die Manufacturing was last modified: January 26th, 2017 by Donald Carson

Internet of Things will not only affect businesses, marketing, health and home convenience, it will also bring a lot of new stuff on the table for human relationships. IoT devices are here to transform our entire lifestyles, which revolve around relationships and connection with other humans. Here’s how IoT will affect human relationships.

Context-Based Smart Communication

IoT devices like Google Glass, Snap Spectacles, Vuzix Blade will help people to connect on a deeper level. Imagine this scenario: a patient is sitting in front of his doctor, explaining the status of his health and symptoms, while the doctor, who is wearing a smart augmented reality-based glasses, is watching the patient’s medical history and previous meeting’s notes, without breaking the eye contact and listening to the patient’s talk. Internet of Things and Augmented Reality will help humans to keep the context refreshed, which will help them to refine and improve their communication. Looking at your smartphone’s screen while sitting in a coffee shop with your friends or family breaks the resonance and gives a negative vibe. Internet of Things will take care of that. Smart Glasses can play social media apps, YouTube videos and everything your smartphone does. You will be able to maintain an eye contact with others all the time and also stay connected during conversations.

CRM

Customer Relationship Management is another domain where Internet of Things will have a huge impact. With the help of Big Data, data from social media and connected devices, companies and individuals will be able to know more about customers and connect with them smartly. Philip’s smart Sonicare toothbrush is an example of this. This GPS enabled toothbrush keeps record of the user’s routine and locations and can also relay data to user’s dentist. So every time you go to your dentist, you will not hear the annoying question about whether your brushed or not.

More Time for Humans to Connect

Perhaps the biggest benefit of IoT devices for human relationships will be the time humans will be able to spend with each other without worrying about small chores like laundry, doing dishes, house cleaning, booking flights, scheduling meetings, setting reminders, maintaining temperatures and home security. Smart home systems like Amazon Echo and Google Home are already proving this point. Instead of taking everything in your hand, delegate daily tasks to IoT devices, and spend time with your loved ones. Families will be able to go to vacations without worrying about security of their homes and property.

Internet of things affects Sex Lives and Relationships

Internet of Things revolution will result in smart sex toys for men and women. This would take a toll on actual human relationships. Consider US-based sex toys company Sinthetic’s male sex doll, which is creepily realistic and have the looks and feels of a man. Add IoT and AR to such toys and you will have smart sex dolls which will talk, change their body temperatures and take things in control in bed.

Oculus Rift’s VR Sex is getting insanely popular around the world and scientists think that soon we will be able to buy sex products which will satisfy our every desire without any need for a human connection. Similarly, famous company RealDoll has announced that it will launch a smart, connected, IoT-based sex doll for males in 2017.

How Will Internet of Things Affect Human Relationships was last modified: February 5th, 2017 by Donald Carson

Snow, fog and blizzards practically make driving impossible in the US. Winters are getting worse with every year, thanks to the Climate Change. Driving in snow and fog is full of danger. According to a report, over 1300 people hundreds of thousands are wounded every year due to crashes and accidents caused by snow. Snow depletes friction on roads, and make it impossible for the cars to immediately halt on icy streets. There is already much skepticism on the level of trust that could be put in self-driving cars. How, then, will self-driving cars will handle snow?

3D Mapping on self driving cars

Mapping is the best defense of self-driving cars when it comes to hostile terrains. Autonomous cars use precise mapping techniques to pre-load the maps and terrains. They load the minute details like position of trees, weather, lines, curbs and curves. 3D Maps help the car’s sensors in detecting real-time obstacles like other cars, buildings and pedestrians. Many car companies are using LiDAR technology, which provides a great obstacle detection mechanism when combined with 3D maps. When an autonomous car has all the data and information of objects on and nearby road, it will adjust speeds and maneuvers accordingly.

LiDAR Technology

Self-driving cars can detect snowflakes, ice on the roads, trees, signs and other obstacles by using the LIDAR technology, which is based on precise light emission. LiDAR technology takes data from 3D maps and compares the terrain and environment of a clear day with the current data. LiDAR technology can detect the real shapes and curves of roads even when all the surfaces are covered with snow. How? It uses the light emission detection mechanism, and it has all the data of roads preloaded in the maps. The problem in this technology, however, is that the car may take a snow flake or ice piece as an obstacle, which could result in the vehicle stopping. But there is a variable called “obstacle persistence”. If a small obstacle is too persistent, the car can be programmed to overlook it and pass over it, which should happen on snowy roads. Here is a video summing up Ford’s LiDAR technology to make driverless cars smart enough to drive in snow.

Basic Radars

Some experts say that LiDAR technology can sometimes halt in snow because it works on light, and there are chances that LED reflection will not work in fog and snow. In case of LiDAR failure, self-driving cars have basic radar technology which works on electromagnetic waves. A radar can always detect moving objects, vehicles, buildings, pedestrians and snow. But in order for the autonomous cars to work well, they would have to be placed inside the car’s body or behind the windshield so that ice and rain may not block the wave production.

Cameras

Cameras are quintessential in making an autonomous car vigilant and aware of its surroundings. Companies are putting cameras behind the vipers and windscreens so that they could get a clear view even in the times of rain and snow. Cameras work with LiDAR technology and radars to make the mapping stronger. It’s all about adding more equipment to decrease the risk factor. For example, one of Mercedes Benz’s car has over 23 sensors that detect guardrails, oncoming traffic and trees so that the vehicle can travel without lane lines.

Conventional Technology and Room for Improvement

Despite of all the technology-laden features in driverless cars, it is imperative that companies work on the strong tires and all-wheel drives, which are the traditional ways to tackle skids, spinouts and rear-end collisions which are caused by snow and ice on roads. There is a great room for improvement and research in this area, and giants working on driverless cars such as Tesla, Google, Ford and Fiat have a great responsibility in this realm to solve this critical problem.

How Will Self-Driving Cars Handle Snow, Fog and Hostile Weather? was last modified: January 24th, 2017 by Donald Carson

According to a report from Market Research, healthcare IoT market’s total worth will reach a whopping $117 billion by the end of 2020. This shows the climacteric important of Internet of Things in the healthcare industry. In this article we will talk about the most important healthcare sectors which will be transformed by Internet of things.

Remote Monitoring and Tracking

Internet of Things will completely change the way doctors and health experts track their patients’ health and routines. IoT brings disruptive tracking technologies, remote monitoring tools and devices that help in tracking patients. For example, famous UK health company Stanley Healthcare Solutions uses state of the art IoT technology to track patients and related assets. Its RTLS (Real-time Location Services) business makes special badges that could be attached to patients, wheelchairs and different things. These badges relay location information and help doctors to quickly respond to crucial situations.

Cardiac Health and IoT

Heart problems are some of the most common causes of deaths around the world. IoT will affect cardiac health tracking by providing an easy way using which patients could track their heart beats. There are several heart rate monitors and chest straps in the market which show the complete heart beat patterns of the day. You can imagine a system which will trigger an alert to the doctor whenever a patient’s heartbeat shows abnormal signs. This way, heart attacks will be easy to avoid, as they would be detected before they escalate. MyZone M3 and Polar are two examples of HRM and chest straps.

Ingestible Sensors and Smart Pills

Imagine this: a diabetic feels faint and goes for a nap. He wakes up to a team of medics taking care of him, as they tell him that they saved him from going into a “diabetic coma”, which could often lead to death. How were the medics able to detect that there was something wrong with the person? Ingestible sensors is the answer. IoT and advanced medicine technology will soon make it possible for patients to take ingestible sensors. These sensors will keep track of blood sugar levels, and other metrics, and trigger alerts to connected systems. California-based company Proteus Digital Health is already working on ingestible sensors and has raised over $50 million in funding from investors.

Health and Fitness Trackers

Health and fitness trackers have made is easy for everyone to track basic health metrics like calorie consumption, heat rates, number of steps taken daily etc. There are several fitness trackers in the market using which you can enjoy and experience the real power of Internet of Things. The effects of this IoT tech is increased awareness among users and a significant drop in health issues among the users of IoT-based fitness and health trackers.

Blood Testing and Diagnostics

IoT is going to revolutionize the entire dynamics of blood testing. In fact, a famous device made by Dr. Eugene Chan and his colleagues at the DNA Medical Institute (DMI) can detect diseases and health issues based on a single drop of blood. The device is rHealth. A patient just has to put one drop of blood on this device’s small receptacle. The blood then goes to micro-mixer of the device. Data variations in light intensity and scattering is used by rHealth to detect health problems. IoT will make blood testing and disease diagnostics much more advanced that the current levels.

Effect of IoT on Eye Health

Eye health is one of the most important realms of healthcare. Smart lens based on IoT is the next big thing in the modern healthcare. Google came up with its idea of smart contact lenses in 2014 using which patients could track their blood glucose levels. These lenses kill the hassle of testing sugar daily with painful devices, as eye tear drops can tell the blood glucose levels as precisely as a blood drop can. Google’s parent company Alphabet is also working on a contact lens that will fix the vision and retina sharpness using special fluids and electronics. This project of Alphabet is done by Verily Sciences. Similarly, Israel-based company Deep Optics is working on a smart lens which fixes the focus on the lens using electric circuits and light sensors.

How Internet of Things will Revolutionize Healthcare was last modified: January 16th, 2017 by Donald Carson

According to Gartner, over 29% of the Enterprise world has adapted IoT at some level, and over 64% plans to do so in the near future. A latest Burning Glass survey found that over 1,000 jobs were listed under IoT category in 2016, out of 800,000 total IT jobs posted. Harvard Business School says that IoT marks the third wave of the IT revolution that started in the 90s. IoT is the next big thing and companies around the world are shifting to this technology pretty quickly, which means there will be a growing appetite for people with IoT skills in the market pretty soon. In this article, we will tell you how to make a career in Internet of Things by pointing out the skills you need to have to excel in this field.

Machine Learning

Internet of Things is all about machines. And to work with the machines and make intelligent systems, machine learning is quintessential. There are many quality courses on Machine Learning for beginners on the internet. I recommend Machine Learning course from Coursea or Udacity. There is also a great free course on Machine Learning by Stanford on YouTube where you can learn the basics, background and advanced level Machine Learning skills which are necessary for Internet of Things.

Best IoT Books

After the courses, books are the best way to learn Internet of Things. You have to equip yourself with in-depth and strong knowledge of Internet of Things to start a career in this highly challenging and exciting field. Here are a few books which are recommended for learning Internet of Things for beginners.

Programming Languages Necessary for IoT

If you don’t develop a knack of excellent programming, the chances of you making a career in IoT are close to none, as IoT is full of playing with the machines, making smart algorithms, solving complex programs using computer programs and probabilistic theories. You must learn programming languages like Python, R-Language, Java, C#, C++, and C. Learning a bit of PHP and web programming will also refine your design skills in IoT systems.

Hardware and Embedded Systems

Apart from programming languages, having a strong knowhow of embedded systems like sensors, processors, controllers, interfacing, wireless protocols, Bluetooth protocols is also necessary. This is because IoT is not all about software. You have to embed programs in chips and make themsmart standalone systems. You should learn programming with Arduino devices and other advanced level devices such as Raspberry-Pi. Just start with the baby steps, like a weekend project to make a blinking LED, temperature or fluid sensors, fixing motors and related stuff.

Networking

Internet of Things is based on the idea that “things” or devices can be connected to make them communicate and talk to each other for optimized results as standalone devices. Networking is the essence of all the communication dynamics between devices. You should grasp a keen and sound technical knowledge of Networking. You should learn basic data communications and wireless protocols (WPA/WEP or 3G/4G), Bluetooth Low Energy, encryption algorithms and audio and video communication basics.

How to Make a Career in IoT: Learn The Skills You Need for IoT was last modified: January 10th, 2017 by Donald Carson

Internet of Things is the next big thing after the World Wide Web and mobile apps revolution. The world now has a growing appetite for connected things. People need their everyday objects like washing machines, remote control, rooms, furniture and cutlery to be “smart” and connected. There are activity and health trackers which help people in achieving their fitness goals. There are smart alarm clocks and assistants which help you in your everyday tasks. These are all the marvels of Internet of Things. Ever wondered how this amazing technology works? In this article we will talk about the technology behind Internet of Things.

Basic Connectivity

Connectivity powers the Internet of Things technology and its whole ecosystem. Most of the IOT devices are based on IPv6 enabled protocols which communicate via sensors. Every IOT device has sensors, to take and communicate data with different outlets. There are various protocols used for IOT commutation, including XMPP and Data Distribution Service (DDS).These protocols are based on data-centric middleware standards and embedded applications to deliver millions of data packets in seconds.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is used to identify the signals for data from radio waves. These waves pack information which are then decoded using soft QR codes and digitized tokens. RFID is a two-way radio transmitter device which is installed in almost every IOT device so that the device could efficiently take data, process it and save it in RFID middle ware from where further processing takes place.

EnOcean technology

This technology is used mostly in home automation systems. This technology consists of different modules loaded with convertors for efficient energy consumption and gated communications.

NFC(Near Field Communication)

NFC is a pretty famous technology that is also used in mobile phones, payment gateways and security systems. NFC is used in IOT devices for security, identification and data transfer. NFC works on two things: imitator and end targets. An active RF field is generated by initiator and the communication is done to the target based on P2P communicating mode.

Bluetooth (SIG)

Bluetooth is used in IOT to transfer data via short-wavelength transmissions in between different devices. IOT Bluetooth works mostly on ISM band from 2400–2480 MHz.

Wireless SoC (system on chip)

Internet of Things devices are based on a hardware technology known as ‘System on Chip’, which could work as a standalone computer and all in one device, having transmissions protocols such as TCP, UDP and IP powered on the chip for security and microcontroller-based data communication.

Riot OS

Riot OS is a special operating system software made for Internet of Things (IOT) devices. This OS is a specially designed software suite that is able to work on microkernel with increased modularity and delegation power. It supports RDP, UDP, TCP and many other technologies and communication modes.

ThingWorx

Data Brokers play a key role in IOT devices these days. One such data broker software is ThingWorx. This software gives design, runtime limits, and intelligence environment to IOT and provides M2M applications and hierarchy to the connections between different data layers in IOT.

Sense

Sense of a complete platform for IOT-based development. All IOT enthusiasts who want to design and test their own devices and software can test and use this platform. It supports IOT installation, testing and scope-based programs. This platform is completely free.

MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport)

This protocol lies at the center of the high-end IOT devices, and is mainly used for telemetry, or remote monitoring of devices in the industry. This protocol makes sure that information from all the devices connection via D2D platform is gathered and funneled to the IOT central server for processing.

Sensors

Sensors are the centerpiece of any IOT device. A sensor is a device that communicates via signals based on electrical, optical, or digital data and waves. Sensors transfer data to other devices or services. Sensor has a device called “actuator” which converts electrical signal into actionable data. Another device in sensor is “transducer” which converts energy of multiple forms into different types.

Augmented Intelligence

This is a new concept in IOT domain, and involves doing analysis based on data. Augmented Reality is at work at this stage of IOT. The system incorporates multiple variants of the connected ecosystem to come up with the best possible outcome. There are different kinds of tools used at this level of data process. For example, descriptive analytics are used to process data at a detailed level with data visualization. Tools such as Tableau and SAS Visual Analytics are used to cull huge data sets and transform them to chunks that could be used for actionable information. Predictive analytics is used to predict the system outcomes by making correlations with related or apparently unrelated data variables. This is where disruptive technologies like Machine Learning are used. This real of technology is basically the pathway of Artificial Intelligence.

Speech recognition

Speech Recognition is an amazing technology that is exploited to its fullest potentialities in IOT. The real challenge is to cut through diverse accents, background noise, homophones and make the system reach to the actionable information. IOT devices like Google Home and Amazon Echo are based on the speech recognition mechanics.

How IOT Works?

There are complex algorithms and technical dynamics working beneath the user layers of IOT, but simply put, IOT things works mainly on embedded sensors, processors, communication hardware and software. The “connected” devices convey data to humans or machines (machine to machine) using sensors. Connections are made via Wi-Fi, mobile data or wired Ethernet cables. Tagging technologies including RFID tags, QR codes and barcodes to obtain data and identify objects in the connected system. So imagine you are sitting in your office, without knowing that the flood or seepage water is silently making its way through your basement. But you are smart, and have a moisture detector in your basement. This detector will have a sensor, which collaborate with the on-system OS or service that is keeping an eye on temperature. The sensor will also take into account the level of water flow through pipes. If there is a massive influx on water through pipes, the sensor will signal a valve shut sign to the hardware device of the IOT system. But in our case, the system will generate a message to the app to alert you, or perform other actions that are programmed in the system.

Application of IOT in the modern times

Here is a chart detailing the famous IOT devices and technologies being used in the industry at the moment:

Examples of IOT in Action

In a previous post we mentioned some of the best Internet of Things technologies that you could actually buy right now. Just to re-plug and give you an idea of the examples of all the IOT technologies in real life, here are 3 of the best devices and systems to see IOT in action in different realms of life like home, fitness and life.

Canary is the best, hands down IOT security system which combines audio, motion detection, night vision, a siren, humidity and minute factors you could possibly imagine to keep an eye on your premises.

This is perhaps the most famous IOT device which people actually use in the US. Amazon Echo has become a household name. It is basically your assistant, which helps you in tasks like booking a flight, controlling home temperature, changing songs and playlists, searching the internet and much more. Just say “Alexa, search the cheapest flights to Miami” and it will be done. Alexa is the name of the assistant app that works with Echo.

Consumer Electronics Show is the launch pad of cutting edge technology and innovation. Internet of Things will be the center of attention at CES 2017 as tech companies around the world are focusing on the connected devices industry, which have a net worth of over $3 trillion by 2025, according to a report by Machina Research. Let’s find out the best Internet of Things products were can expect at CES 2017.

Semtech’s IoT Products

Semtech is going to unveil its LoRa® Wireless RF Technology, wireless charging, smart sensing, smart switching, and other advanced IoT products at the CES 2017. Semtech’s LinkCharge wireless charging platform is designed for medium and high-power devices. Another important IoT product to be revealed by the California-based company is a smart human sensing solution for wearable applications which would be made available for use, extensions and licensing for other IoT companies in the wearable industry.

Butterfleye’s Innovation Smart Home System

Butterfleye is a California-based company which makes advanced home security systems. The company will be at CES 2017 to pitch its IoT security systems that do not rely on owner’s home network. Butterfleye believes in using Cloud-based platforms to store all the information and data as hackers can easily intrude in the local, limited systems.

Samsung’s Tag+

Given the skyrocketing importance of Internet of Things, Samsung has a special team, Creative Labs (C-Lab) to work on the IoT products. Samsung’s C-Lab will be revealing some of the most stunning IoT products in CES 2017. The first is Tag+, an IoT gadget or toy for kids which interacts in a playful way. Tag+ will also have a companion smartphone app. This gadget can be coupled and attached with the traditional toys to increase the fun element.

Samsung Lumini

Samsung’s C-Lab is also set to unveil Lumini, a hardware device specially designed to detect skin problems in early stages. Lumini has a portable camera which can be connected with your smartphone. The camera scans face and other body parts and suggests appropriate measures to take care of your skin based on smart algorithms. Lumini’s smartphone app also predicts possible future skin issues, and suggest medicines. You can also connect with top dermatologists using this app. This IoT device is just like Samsung’s S-Skin tech solution for skin issues, but the company has decided to pitch it as a separate product in CES 2017.

S-Skin

S-Skin is your all-in-one skincare solution which helps in detecting skin issues, finding the right medicines and doctors for your skin problems, and taking a closer look at your skin pores with detailed imagery. S-Skin scans the face using LED light. You can measure redness, hydration, melanin and texture of your skin with this device.

EnOcean’s Wireless IoT

The German wireless technology company EnOcean will showcase its self-powered wireless solutions for the IoT devices in CES 2017. The company said in a recently statement that it will reveal its wireless switches, sensors and actuators, powered by energy in the event. These devices will be powered by low energy based on motion, light and temperature and Wifi standards like EnOcean, ZigBee and Bluetooth Low Energy. These devices and standards provide low-cost and highly effective energy solutions to industrial IoT usage.

Qorvo’s IoT Products

Qorvo is a North Carolina-based semiconductor company which has developed a lot of smart home, security and commuting products. At CES 2017, Qorvo will launch its RF building blocks and a platform to connect multiple devices wirelessly. The company said in a statement that its high-performance amplifiers, filters, duplexers and switching solutions will be a stepping stone for next generation connectivity like 5G technology. In April, Qorvo acquired RF communication technology and IoT company, GreenPeak Technologies.

Best Internet of Things Products to Expect at CES 2017 was last modified: January 5th, 2017 by Donald Carson

According to the McKinsey Global Institute, IoT has the potential and capacity to make an economic impact of a whopping $3.9 trillion to $11.1 trillion a year by 2025. Internet of Things is the future as more and more people have started preferring “connected” devices around them including digital sensors, internet-based assistants, gadgets, connected cars and appliances. Research firm Gartner reported that over 43% of enterprises and organizations are planning to use IoT by the end of 2016, and this figure will reach 64% in the next year. IoT startups are sprouting up like crazy these days. These companies will have a gigantic value in terms of money and products. Here are the best IoT startups.

Greenbird is an IoT startup that is working on a middleware system based on Cloud that would let the connected things to interact with each other and optimize the power and output of the public utilities like electricity, water etc. The company’s smart integration technology is based on Metercloud, a hybrid cloud platform for big data integration for the implementation of smart grid systems, smart city and the industrial IoT. The platform promises to reduce the cost by slashing the human element which is prone to delays and, sometimes, indecisiveness.Greenbirdwas nominated amongst the top 25 IoT Heroes 2016 in the Smart City category forIoT / M2M Innovation World Cup 2016.

Worldsensing is working on IoT sense-based platform layers which will help the industry to make smart and connected devices. Worldsensing is also working on predictive systems that will help the IoT devices to generate warnings based on subtle sensor-based inputs. As of now, Worldsensing offers two products. The first product is specifically designed for the industrial sector to helpthe monitoring of assets in challenging locations for Civil Engineering, Mining, and Oil & Gas customers. Mobility domain is another area where the company has amazing products to offer, including ‘Fastprk’parking system for smart cities which helps drivers to locate parking spaces more quickly. Worldsensing has also produced a Bitcarrierfor the real-time traffic information management for urban areas.

Lack of medication adherence is taking a toll on the healthcare system in monetary terms and mortality rate. AdhereTech solves this problem by bringing IoT on the table. The New York-based company, which has raised over $2.3 million in funding, has developed a pill bottle which is able to detect when one pill or one liquid milliliter of medication is removed from it. In this way, if the medicine is not removed for a specified time, it alerts the user via message or call. AdhereTech’s pill bottle is being used by thousands of patients andmajor pharmaceutical companies recommend it to patients. Given the fact that non-adherence to medicines is the cause of about 125,000 deaths per year, AdhereTech’s IoT solution has a massive potential for growth.

Chui is a Colorado-based Internet of Things startup that has developed a system to use human faces as “universal keys” for intelligent and “connected” doors and doorbells. Chui uses combined facial recognition with advanced computer vision and machine learning.Chui’s intelligent systems notifies with pictures about anyone who knocks or bells at the door. Watch this video on Chui to get the gist of the product.

Enlighted is a California-based Internet of Things company which makes smart IoT-based lighting systems. Over 40% of the total electricity used in households and industry is used in lighting, most of which is wasted. Enlighted’s system controls lights with sensors, monitors light levels, temperature, occupancy and power consumption on over 90 feet radius. Enlighted’s lighting fixtures contain sensorswhich are able to measure occupancy, temperature and ambient light metrics and turn the lights off and on based on the results. Its device also have on-machine software. In March, Enlighted said it had raised a $25 million Series D round, steered by investors including Tao Capital, Kleiner Perkins, RockPort Capital Partners, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson.

Heapsylon develops smart socks that based on textile pressure sensors to prevent injuries of runners. The socks is paired with electrical sensors which track steps, speed, calories, altitude gain, environmental temperature and distance. Heapsylon’s band also accurately tracks foot landing technique, center of balance and weight distribution along with cadence to help athletes and general people aware of their movements.

AI-based connected sex is going to be a thing in the future. MysteryVibe is a famous IoT startup which makessmart and connected erotic toys which provide users pleasure by using Big Data and machine learning techniques. MysteryVibe promises to make “relationships more fun” and let individuals take control of their pleasures. The details of the algorithms and Big Data technology used by MysteryVibe are not a mystery, as the company has made them open the medical & research communities to address possible health issues in the “connected sex”.

7 Hottest Internet of Things Startups To Watch was last modified: January 5th, 2017 by Donald Carson